Personal Video Conference Lighting Assembly

Abstract

A lighting assembly for use in connection with personal video conferencing includes a plurality of LEDs and can be mounted easily to a personal computing device. The lighting assembly can include a tiltable base that supports the personal computing device at various angles. The LEDs can be configured to emit converging, overlapping light that provides a continuous field of light on the user, and minimizes hot spots, bands of light, and user discomfort.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lighting assembly for use in personal video conferencing comprising:
 an LED housing, comprising a front portion and a back portion, and defining a first interior cavity;   an LED circuit board comprising at least one LED, wherein the LED circuit board is enclosed within the first interior cavity and wherein the front portion of the LED housing includes at least one opening;   wherein the at least one LED is situated to emit light toward a user through the at least one opening;   a power supply, wherein the power supply is operatively connected to the LED circuit board;   an input device configured to control a flow of an electric current from the power supply to the at least one LED; and   at least one optic disposed between a user and the least one LED, wherein the at least one optic is substantially transparent in a visible spectrum of light, and wherein the at least one optic shapes the light emitted by the at least one LED.   
     
     
         2 . The lighting assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a neck comprising a first end and a second end, 
 wherein the LED housing is attached to the first end of the neck; and 
 a power supply housing comprising a second interior cavity configured to house the power supply. 
 
     
     
         3 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a clipping mechanism comprising a front portion, a back portion,   wherein the clipping mechanism is affixed to the second end of the neck; and   wherein the front portion and the back portion are configured to removably attach to a personal computing device.   
     
     
         4 . The lighting assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the front portion of the clipping mechanism is configured to avoid a camera that is integral to the personal computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The lighting assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the back portion of the clipping mechanism comprises the power supply housing. 
     
     
         6 . The lighting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the neck is a flexible neck. 
     
     
         7 . The lighting assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a base unit connected to the second end of the flexible neck, the base unit comprising:   a front portion, a rear portion, and at least one leg member
 wherein the at least one leg member is rotatably connected to the base unit; 
 wherein the at least one leg member has a retracted position and at least one deployed position; and 
 wherein the at least one leg member is configured to support the lighting assembly in at least one titled position corresponding to the at least one deployed position; 
   and wherein the front portion of the base unit is configured to support the personal computing device in the at least one deployed position.   
     
     
         8 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a friction pad is affixed to the front portion of the base unit. 
     
     
         9 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 at least one arm clip member, comprising a clip portion,   wherein the arm clip member is slidably connected to the base portion; and   wherein the clip portion is configured to engage the personal computing device.   
     
     
         10 . The lighting assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one arm clip member is attached to the base unit with at least one spring. 
     
     
         11 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a ledge member connected to the base unit,   wherein the ledge member has a deployed position and a retracted position; and   wherein the ledge member is configured to support the personal computing device on the front portion of the base unit when the ledge member is in the deployed position.   
     
     
         12 . The lighting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one LED emits light that is between 2000K-3500K on a Kelvin scale. 
     
     
         13 . The lighting assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one LED emits light that is approximately 3200K on the Kelvin scale. 
     
     
         14 . The lighting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one LED emits light that is between 5100K-10000K on a Kelvin scale. 
     
     
         15 . The lighting assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one LED emits light that is approximately 5600K on the Kelvin scale. 
     
     
         16 . The lighting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one LED has a +82 color rendering index. 
     
     
         17 . The lighting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power input device is accessible to the user through the front portion of the LED housing. 
     
     
         18 . The lighting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one optic is a total internal reflection lens. 
     
     
         19 . The lighting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the input device controls an output of light emitted by the at least one LED based on actuation by the user. 
     
     
         20 . The lighting assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the power supply housing is contained in the base unit.